Clues
/kluːz/
Definitions
A fact or object that helps to solve a mystery or puzzle.
/kluːz/
A piece of information or evidence that helps solve a mystery.
The police followed the clues to catch the thief.
💡 Simply: Clues are like little hints that help you figure something out, like breadcrumbs leading to a treasure!
👶 For kids: Clues are like secret messages that help you find something.
More Examples
The clues in the riddle were difficult to decipher.
How It's Used
"The detective found several vital clues at the crime scene."
"The crossword puzzle gave us some helpful clues."
From Middle English *clues*, from Old French *clef*, meaning 'key'. The modern sense developed from the idea of a key unlocking a mystery.
The word's use in the sense of solving mysteries became popular in the 19th century with the rise of detective fiction.
Memory tip
Think of a 'key' (clef in French) that unlocks the answer.
Word Origin
"key"